Principality of Acris

More than anywhere else in Arstadt, the Catharate rules Acris. While other nations of Arstadt have some right to self-governance with Cathar sovereignty only extending areas of ‘Imperial Immediacy’ — fortresses, inquisitories, numenous hazard zones and the like— Acris is technically not under Catharate control, but with Blackgate breathing down their necks, everything naturally orbits Cathar activity. If the Catharate makes a demand, Acris is the first to answer.
Law and Order: Most municipalities are operated directly by a Rector, an elder that is appointed as leader, usually by the previous Rector upon their retirement or relocation, or directly from Downfall’s Ministry of Governance (in the case of newly incorporated settlements, or the previous rector dying suddenly or being ousted.) While still a Cathar, and therefore possessing military and officerial training, The Rector’s duties are generally exclusively administrative, with a majordomo handling mobilization of the inquisitory and police. The larger cities like Hamalemel have a number of rectors, each with appointed administrative functions such as firefighting, infrastructure, or security. However, some remote or longstanding municipalities are permitted to be administered by democratically elected mayors or keep in the tribal tradition with a Gadaa — a rotating, democratically elected council of elders with a term limit of 8 years — in which case, the Rector serves in an advisory role, though their connections mean their suggestions seldom fall on deaf ears.
Inquisitories It is said among Acristans that the surest sign of Cathar arrival is the erection of an Inquisitory, and then the sign that they intend to stay is the guillotine. At its’ simplest, an Inquisitory is a fortified watchtower, typically containing the village armory, housing for resident and errant Cathars, and the headquarters of the Lay town guard. Beyond that, the Inquisitory’s services can vary depending on its’ staffing needs and strategic significance. In larger settlements, an Inquisitory can house scores of Cathars, with meeting rooms, drill yards, a commissary, larder, apothecary, smithy, prison, and even an inn. Large inquisitories can even serve as an embassy in times of peace and a stronghold in times of unrest. Almost all sell surplus product to the public— given the quality of Cathar military goods, they generally want little for patronage, even driving local shops deliberately out of service. While the Catharate does possess the power to simply commandeer local businesses, such overt behavior is considered (correctly) to promote antipathy towards the cause, so Inquisitories are often satisfied simply squeezing locals out with cheaper imported goods made to Cathar-spec, promoting utter reliance on the Catharate as well as spreading their branding and good faith. Cathars are particularly assertive about this when dealing with problematic merchants or artisans. It’s important to note here that ‘problematic’ to a Cathar precludes criminal (or close enough to be framed as criminal) activity; Cathars rarely bother playing economics with overtly seditious citizens. Such individuals are simply killed. Public Execution Regarding the Guillotine, public execution is an everyday fact of Acristan life, and is perhaps the only form of diversion from daily work the Catharate doesn’t frown upon, and generally speaking, public executions tend to be well-attended, and in the case of high-profile or deeply reviled criminals, even theatric. Public executions are typically conducted by guillotine, though hanging, firing squad or manual beheading with an edged weapon are also common. The victim is permitted a final speech, and a selection of laymen are selected from by the Catharate as witnesses to verify proper procedure to the public. While this is ostensibly for the condemned to make their final case for forgivness to the masses at large and plead their peace. These are typically subdued apologies, but stories abound of dangerously sympathetic or inflammatory criminals being run through by the executioner mid-speech and hurled off the gibbet before the guillotine was even armed. Likewise, particularly sensitive criminals are never given the option to be killed publicly, and are typically quietly executed in the Inquisitory, or die “mysteriously” in jail after the public concern about their well-being abates. The Catharate favors arsenic in the food.

Type

Geopolitical, Principality